The Courtauld Gallery

What makes it special

The gallery fills rooms in Somerset House, on the Strand, in a block that William Chambers planned in the 1770s and the Royal Academy used until 1837. Its rooms include the LVMH Great Room and the Blavatnik Fine Rooms.

Look for Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergère and Cézanne's The Montagne Sainte-Victoire with a Large Pine. From Van Gogh come the Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, painted in Arles in January 1889, and Peach Trees in Blossom from the same year.

Beyond the Impressionists, the paintings range from the Renaissance to the 20th century. The whole collection holds over 33,000 objects, from paintings and drawings to ceramics and sculpture, dating from the Middle Ages to the 21st century.

Visiting

The Strand entrance of Somerset House leads straight to both the gallery and the café, so use that one.

On the way into the Great Room, look up: the Greek inscription above its door means "Let no stranger to the Muses enter."

Then give most of the visit to the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist pictures, the Manet, the Cézanne and the two Van Goghs, before any temporary exhibition that is on.

Pair it with Covent Garden, or with South Bank for a longer day.

Tips

The gallery, shop and café are cashless, so carry a card or phone to pay.

Entry to the permanent collection is also free for visitors on Universal Credit or Pension Credit.

Fixed seating is spread around the gallery and in the foyer if you need a rest.